GMP Performance invites you to THAWOUT, GMP's annual track day and open house!

Here at GMP Performance, there is nothing we love more than cars. We love the looks, the sounds, the parts, the details, everything that goes in and comes out of them. But what we may love the most about our cars is racing them!

GMP Performance and race tracks have gone together for almost 40 years now and we’re always looking for new ways to share that with you. Not just watching, oh no, but participating and being part of the experience as much as we are. And so, THAWOUT was born.

For THAWOUT, we have organized a track day at Carolina Motorsports Park, a track that has seen the likes of the NASA and SCCA series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and some Grand Am teams for testing, and open it up to you to bring your car and live the racing life for a day. No matter what your level of experience is, we have a program for you.

We are allowed to do this for you, courtesy of The Palmetto Motorsports Club, CMP’s private membership-only motorsports club. The intimate PMC format guarantees a minimum of five twenty minute sessions with additional sessions as time permits, all in one day. We will be there to make sure everything you could need is taken care of. Our trailer and techs will be on hand to assist participants with everything from helmet rental, car preparation (removing loose items such as floormats, setting tire pressures and adding numbers), giving directions on where to go and keeping track of the event schedule. Each participant receives their own box to store their valuables which is stored in the trailer during the day. Chairs are set up around tables and we supply a mix of snacks and drinks.

A week prior to the event, a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle will be performed to make sure your car is in tip top, race-ready shape. We check over the brakes, steering, suspension and engine. We strongly recommend replacing the brake fluid with a high temp variation. Additionally, worn out items such as tires may need to be replaced and can be ordered in time for the event.

Racing!

Participants are grouped into three groups based on experience levels to insure the utmost safety.

Group 1: The DE (Drivers Ed) group is for novice drivers to get comfortable with the track day experience. Participants are assigned an instructor that will ride in the car to explain driving/track techniques and is there to keep you and others safe. Instructional class-time is included to brief you on the course layout, track procedures and passing rules. Passing is only permitted in designated "safe-zones" which are on the longer straight-aways to keep risks at an absolute minimum. Since this group has instructors, we strongly encourage early sign-up as we try and pair instructors with experience in particular cars. Registration for the Drivers Ed group closes May 1st.

Group 2: The Solo group allows more experienced drivers to run at a higher pace and overtaking is allowed in designated zones with a "point-by".

Group 3: The super-solo group is for racers and their racecars. Passing is allowed and participants can enjoy abundant track time for testing.

There will also be an opportunity for enthusiasts to get on track for Touring laps. This series of controlled speed laps are free, open to everyone, and will be performed for those looking to familiarize themselves with what it’s like to be on track. These laps will be held during the mandatory quiet hour at lunch. There are also rental Go-Karts for those enthusiasts not old enough to participate on the track.

The fun isn’t just at the track either. On Friday, May 10th, we have an amazing open house. Our shop doors will be open and enthusiasts are invited to tour the showroom, shop and warehouse to get an insiders look. We are inviting industry insiders and manufacturer reps as special guests to discuss their available upgrades. In previous years, we’ve had representatives and displays from everyone as far as APR, Michelin, Brembo, Vossen, BBS, Eibach, Speedart, and many more.

Our shop team will demonstrate a Hawk-Eye Elite alignment and road-force balancing using our state-of-the-art Hunter equipment. Drinks and light snacks will be served all day and free ice cream will handed out at 5pm.

Register Now!

Track Day Registration includes all of the following:
+an abundant amount of track time
+track wheel/tire transport to and from the track
+onsite track support (vehicle prep/wheel torque/tire pressure check)
+event T-Shirt - Please state your size when ordering.

I don't know about you but I think one of the coolest parts of track days is the other cars you'll be out there with! So I thought I'd share the cars we currently have coming. Will you be one of them? We really hope so!

This 2011 GTI is definitely track-ready, with H&R springs, a Brembo big brake kit, Carbonio intake, and an intense APR DXD clutch kit. The owner has come out with us before, so this VW knows its way around the track as well.

Porsches doing the thing they were created for is always a beautiful thing and its something we love seeing. This particular 997T is equipped Bilstein coilovers, a speedART exhaust system, ADV1 wheels, Carbotech brakes and a handful of other upgrades. It has also come out with us before at previous track events and is a true beauty in motion, just as Porsches were designed to be.

Thawout inches closer and closer and more stuff falls into place. We have had several more sign ups, including a Mercedes SLK55, an Audi S4, and a BMW 335is. We have been talking with the people at Monster Energy to bring their truck (loaded with cans of Monster, of course!) to the track to hang out with us also.

But Thawout isnít all thatís making progress. The open house has been coming together as well. We already have had Grassroots Motorsports Magazine graciously offer us year subscriptions for the raffle, as well as some things from Champion Motorsport, who will also have a display up for the event.

Just as a reminder, you donít need to be a racer to come join us for the day. Weíd love to have everyone join us, to hang out, spectate, drink some Monsters and just have a great time. Bring your car and show it off! Weíve been eyeballing our location at the track and we are in a perfect location to host a car meet. After all, whatís better than getting to hang out at a track with some fellow car enthusiasts? We are offering rides to those interested, will be loaded with snacks and drinks, and, if we can say so ourselves, we think weíre pretty cool company to hang out with. So donít hesitate to come on down. Itís totally free to get in, and touring laps held at lunch time are for anyone and everyone!